Chair-desk structure



- INVENTOILS Sumner C. Willis"? fiatzforflz Cardoz0,.Tz-.

3 Sheets-Sheet l .Mad

ATTORNEY 5 C WILLIS ET AL CHAIR-DESK STRUCTURE March24, 1953 File d Dec. 15, 1951 March 24, 1953 s. c. WILLIS ET AL 4 2,632,496

CHAIR-DESK STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 15, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSI Sumner C. M11115 V j .Daizforl-h CardogmJi:

BY M g I I ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1953 2,632,496 CHAIR-DESK STRUCTURE Sumner C. Willis, White Plains, and Danforth Cardozo, Jr., New York, N. Y., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 15, 1951, Serial No. 261,856

The present invention relates to classroom furniture and more particularly to combination chair-desk units.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an improved chair-desk for use in classrooms or other appropriate places; to provide such a unit in which an arm or shelf is mounted on the upper end of a post at one corner of the chair, the shelf being useful to the chair occupant as a support for books while reading and as a support for paper and the occupants arm while writing, and for like purposes; to provide such a unit in which the shelf is forwardly-rearwardly adjustable and. also angularly adjustabl with reference to the chair; to provide such a unit in which the forward-rearward and angular adjustments of the shelf may be made quickly, easily, quietly, and simultaneously; to provide such an adjustable shelf which may if desired be applied to some support other than a chair post; and in general to provide a chair-desk unit which is especially convenient in use and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyin drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a chair-desk unit embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the shelf-supporting chair post and shelf mounted thereon, the shelf being shown in a horizontalposition in full lines and being indicated in inclined positions in dotted lines and broken lines;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the shelf shown in one horizontal position in full lines and indicated in a different forwardly-rearwardly adjusted horizontal position in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the shelf -shown in one horizontal position in full lines and indicated in a slightly laterally moved position in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the underside of the shelf and the supporting structure therefor;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan View of the shelf and the supportin structure therefor, a portion of the shelf being broken away 'toreveal the structure below the shelf;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the same shown partly in vertical section taken on line 'l-. 'l of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the same, showing in one laterally moved position in full lines and in' another laterally moved position dotted lines; and 1 I 13 Claims. (01. 155-428) Figure 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of parts thereof taken on line 9-9 of Figures '7 and 8.

Referring now in detail to these drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the chair there shown is, per se, of generally conventional form, comprising side frames lo, a seat II, and back rails l2. On one of the front corners of the chair --the right front corner as here shown--is mounted an upright support or column IS P ferably fabricated of metal tubing and secured as by welding to the front leg portion of the right hand side frame l0, and this post It serves as a support for the tablet arm or shelf M and the mounting structure therefor.

An upstanding post I5 is telescopically fitted within the column [3 and is secured therein in vertically adjusted position by means of a clamp it. To the upper end of the post [5 is fixedly secured, as by welding a transverse sleeve fitting ll, and a tubular metal shaft I8 is secured in the V sleeve fitting I! as by means of a set screw I 9. The shaft H is thus fixedly secured to the upp end of the post l5 and extends laterally therefrom on both sides of the post.

A supporting bracket 20 is here shown fabricated from a metal sheet out and shaped to fo m a pair of spaced bearing portions 2i, 22 which are turnably and laterally shiftably mounted on the shaft l8 on opposite sides of the post [5, and a body portion 23 extending forwardly from the bearing portions 2!, 22. The body portion 23 of the bracket is provided with forwardly-rearwardly extending runner guides 24 at the opposite sides thereof which, as best shown in Figure 8, extend from said body portion upwardly, then outwardly, then downwardly and finally inwardly. Medially of these guides 2d and forwardly of the post 15, the body portion of the bracket 28 is flanged downwardly to form a cross-sectionally U-shaped depending hanger 25, and one of the side flanges of the hanger, here designated 26 constitutes a latch element and is provided with a plurality of keeper notches 21 therethrough arranged in an arc concentric with the axis of the shaft l8. A cooperating latch element is secured to the upper end of the post l5, and comprises a cross-sectionally inverted U-shaped member 28 (see Figures 6, 7, and 9) secured as by welding to the upper end of the post I 5, extending forwardly from the post and into the hanger 25 of the bracket 29. Thexside flanges or pl'atesof the member 28 are triangular and the side plate designated 29, which lies adjacent the side flange 26 of the hanger 25, has a laterally extending latch 30 thereon adapted to fit into one or another of the keeper notches 21 in said side flange 26.

As best seen in Figure 9, the left hand end of the tubular shaft 18 has inwardly turned lugs 3| thereon, and the right hand end of the brackets bearing portion 22 is closed by an end wall 32. A helical compression spring 33 is disposed within the tubular shaft l8 and bears at one end against the lugs 3| on the shaft and at its other end against the end wall 32 of the brackets bearing portion 22. This compression spring 33 serves to normally urge the bracket 20 to the left as viewed in Figures 4, 5, 8 and 9, toward its position in which the latch 30 engages in one or another of the keeper notches 21 thus to secure the bracket in a selected turned position. The writing shelf M has on its underside a plate 34 secured thereto as by screws 35, the opposite side marginal edges of which are bent to form runners 36 which forwardly-rearwardly slidably embrace the guides 24 on bracket 20, and the shelf It is thus mounted on the bracket slidably to selected forward y-rearwardly adjusted positions. The shelf I4 is thus also laterally shiftable with the bracket 20 and turnable with said bracket to a substantially horizontal position and to selected positions of rearward-downward inclination with reference to the chair. Stop means are associated with the post l5 and the shelf hi for securing the shelf in forwardlyrearwardly adjusted positions. To this end, the p ate 34 has in its medial portion, but slightly to the left of the post I5, a forwardly-rearwardly extending rack comprising downwardly formed teeth 31 having cut out notches 38 therebetween. A detent 39 on the upper end of the posts fixed sleeve fitting I1 is adapted to engage in one or another of said notches 38 when the bracket 23 and shelf M are shifted to the right by the force of spring 33, thus to secure the shelf in selected forwardlyrearwardly slid positions of adjustment.

Operation When the occupant of the chair-desk desires to adjust the shelf l4, he may adjust it both forwardly-rearwardly and angularly at the same time. In order to do this, he merely grasps the shelf [4 and shifts it slightly to the left as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. This slight shifting movement of the shelf also shifts the bracket 26 to the left, thus simultaneously disengaging the latch means, i. e. latch 30 in one of the keeper notches 21, and the stop means, i. e. detent 38 in one of the rack notches 38. Disengagement of the cooperating latch means permits turning of the shelf and bracket about shaft I8 to the selected angle of tilt, and disengagement of the cooperating stop means permits simultaneous forward-rearward adjustment of the shelf M on the bracket 20 to the selected position. When the chair occupant releases the shelf 14, spring 33 returns the shelf and bracket to their normal position wherein the latch means and the stop means are both engaged to secure the shelf in adjusted position.

It will readily be seen that the shelf I l may be similarly adjustably mounted on any suitable upright support by means of the mounting structure herein described, and that the invention is therefore not limited to use with a chair-desk; and while but one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown in the drawings, numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at one of the front corners thereof; a bracket laterally shiftably mounted on the upper end of the post; a shelf forwardly-rearwardly slidably mounted on the bracket; and cooperating stop means associated with the post and the shelf whereby the shelf may be secured in selected forwardly-rearwardly adjusted positions on the bracket, the stop means on the shelf being engaged with and disengaged from the stop means on the post by opposite lateral shifting movements of the shelf and bracket.

2. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at one of the front corners thereof; a bracket laterally shiftably mounted on the upper end of the post; a shelf forwardly-rearwardly slidablymounted on the bracket; and cooperating stop means associated with the post and the shelf whereby the shelf may be secured in selected forwardly-rearwardly adjusted positions on the bracket, the stop means on the shelf being engaged with and disengaged from the stop means on the post by opposite lateral shifting movements of the shelf and bracket; and spring means associated with the post and the bracket for normally urging said shelf and bracket to their laterally shifted position wherein said cooperating stop means are engaged.

3. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at one of the front corners thereof; a substantially horizontal shaft fixedly secured to the upper end of the post and extending laterally therefrom; a bracket laterally shiftably mounted on said shaft and provided with forwardly-rearwardly extending guides at the opposite sides thereof; a shelf having on its underside a pair of runners slidably disposed in the brackets guides whereby the shelf may be moved forwardly and rearwardly to selected positions of adjustment, said shelf having also on its underside a rack extending forwardly-rearwardly between the runners; an upstanding detent on the post engageable with the rack whereby the shelf may be secured in selected forwardly-rearwardly adjusted positions, said detent being engaged in and disengaged from one or another of the racks notches by opposite lateral shifting movements of the shelf and bracket.

4. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at one of the front corners thereof; a substantially horizontal tubular shaft fixedly secured to the upper end of the post and extending laterally therefrom; a bracket laterally shiftably mounted on said shaft and provided with forwardly-rearwardly extending guides at the opposite sides thereof; a shelf having on its underside a pair of runners slidably disposed in the brackets guides whereby the shelf may be moved forwardly and rearwardly to selected positions of adjustment, said shelf having also on its underside a rack extending forwardly-rearwardly between the runners; an upstanding detent on the post engageable with the rack whereby the shelf may be secured in selected forwardly-rearwardly adjusted positions, said detent being engaged in and disengaged from one or another of the racks notches by opposite lateral shifting movements of' the shelf and bracket; and a compression spring disp sed within tubu ar haft nd bearin at one nd aga nst me ns fixed on the shaft and at it other nd aga st means fixe on the a e for normally ur in said h f an bracket toward their laterally shifted position wherein said detent. engages in one of said racks notches.

5. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at one of the front corner thereof; a bracket mounted on the upper end of the. post turnably about a substanall ho ntal a s e t ndi la era ly of the chair; a shel f rward y-rearwardly s idab y mo nt d on e bracket, said shelf bei u able with the bracket to a substantially horio a position and to osit ons of rearwardd wuward inclination with reference to the hair; cooperatin p m ans associated with the post and the shelf whereby the shelf may e secured, in selected forwardly-rearwardly adjusted positions on the bracket; and cooperate ing latch means associated with the post and the bracket whereby the bracket and shelf may be secured in selected turned positions.

6. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstandin post at one of the front CO1"!- ners thereof; a bracket mounted on the upper end of the post laterally shiftably and turnably about a substantially horizontal axis extending latorally of the chair; a shelf forwardly-rearwardly slidably mounted on the bracket, said shelf being turnable with the bracket to a substantially horizontal position and to positions of rearwarddownward inclination with reference to the chair; cooperating stop means associated with the post and the shelf whereby the shelf may be secured in selected forwhrdly-rearwlardly adjusted positions on the bracket; and cooperating latch means associated with the post and the bracket whereby the bracket and shelf may be secured in selected turned positions; said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means being simultaneously engaged and simultaneously disengaged by opposite lateral shifting movements of the shelf and bracket.

7. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at one of the front corners thereof; a bracket mounted on the upper end of the post laterally shiftably and turnably about a substantially horizontal axis extending laterally of the chair; a shelf forwardly-rearwardly slidably mounted on the bracket, said shelf being turnable with the bracket to a substantially horizontal position and to positions of rearward downward inclination with reference to the chair; cooperating stop means associated with the post and the shelf whereby the shelf may be secured in selected forwardly-.rearwardly adjusted positions on the bracket; and cooperating latch means associated with the post and the bracket whereby the bracket and shelf may be secured in selected turned positions; said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means being simultaneously engaged and simultaneously disengaged by opposite lateral shifting movements of the shelf and bracket; and spring means associated with the post and the bracket for normally urging said shelf and bracket to their laterally shifted position wherein said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means are engaged.

8. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at one of the front corners thereof; a substantially horizontal shaft fixedly secured to the upper end of the post and xten ing lat ra ly th refrom; a bracket having a bear ng por ion. turnably Nd. laterally .shif ablr mounted on. th shaft, said b a ke ha ng a ody porti ex ing r a dly rom a d bea ng portion; a h lf rward rearwardl slidably mou te o h bo y po io of he b acket! a shelf being a so rn b e w th the r c e to a substantially horizontal position and to positions of rearward-downward inclination with reference to t ha cooper ng st p m ns ass c ated with the post and th sh f whe eby the shel may be Secur d in sele d forwardl re rw r ly ad us ed positions, on the bracke c eratin a ch means as oc ated with the ost nd the brac et wh re y he rack t and's elf. may be sec red in s l cted turn position said co p ratin tole m ans n said ooperating latch means be n im ltaneo sly en aged and simultaneously disengaged by opp site lateral shift n movements of the shelf and bracket on said shaft.

9. In a chair-desk structure: a chair provided with an upstandin post at one of the front CO1! nors thereof; a substantially horizontal tubular shaft f xedly secured to the upper end of the post and extending laterally therefrom; a bracket having a bearing portion turnably and laterally shiftably mounted on the shaft, said bracket having a body portion extending forwardly from said bearing portion; a shelf forwardly-rearwardly slidably mounted on the body portion of the bracket on said shaft; and a compressionspring disposed within the tubular shaft and hearing at one end against means fixed on the shaft and at its other end against means fixed on the bracket for normally urging said shelf and bracket toward their laterally shifted position wherein said oopera in p means and said co p ratin latch m ans are en a edr 10. In a chair=desk structure: a chair provided with an upstanding post at, one of the front corners thereof; a. substantially horizontal tubular shaft fixedly secured to the upper end of the p st and extending la erally th from n bot side of th P st; a bra ket having a Pair of bearing portions turnably and laterally shiftaloly m nted on he haft on opposite side of he post, said br ck havin a body por ion xtending forwardly from said bearing portions and provided with forwardly-rearwardly extending guides at the opposite sides thereof, said body portion having also a latch element comprising a flange depending medially between said guides and provided with a plurality of keeper notches therethrough arranged in an arc concentric with the axis of said shaft; a cooperating latch element secured to the upper end of the post and comprising a plate extending forwardly from the post alongside said flange and provided with a latch engageabie in one or another of said keeper notches when said bracket is shifted laterally on the shaft to a position of engagement, whereby to secure the bracket in selected turned position; a shelf mounted on the body portion of the bracket and turnable therewith to a substantially horizontal position and to positions of rearwarddownward inclination with reference to the chair, said shelf having on its underside a pair of runners slidably disposed in the brackets guides whereby the shelf may be moved forwardly and rearwardly to selected positions of adjustment, said shelf having also on its underside a rack extending forwardly-rearwardly between the runners; an upstanding detent on the post engageable with the rack when the bracket and shelf are shifted laterally to a position of engagement, whereby to secure the shelf in selected forwardly-rearwardly adjusted positions on the bracket; and a compression spring disposed within the tubular shaft and bearing at one end against means fixed on the shaft and at its other end against means fixed on the bracket whereby the bracket and shelf are normally urged to the aforesaid positions of engagement, said rack and detent and said latch elements being simultaneously disengaged by lateral shifting of the bracket and shelf against the pressure of said spring.

11. In a structure of the class described: an upright support; a shaft secured to the upper end of said support and extending substantially horizontally therefrom; a bracket having a hearing portion turnably and longitudinally shiftably mounted on said shaft; a shelf mounted on the bracket for sliding movement in a direction transverse the axis of the shaft, said shelf being also longitudinally shiftable with the bracket and turnable with the bracket to a substantially horizontal position and to positions of inclination; cooperating stop means associated with the shelf and the support whereby the shelf may be secured in a selected slid position on the bracket; cooperating latch means associated with the bracket and the support whereby the bracket and shelf may be secured in selected turned pcsition on the shaft; said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means being simultaneously engaged and simultaneously disengaged by opposite longitudinal shifting movements of the shelf and bracket on said shaft.

12. In a structure of the class described: an upright support; a shaft secured to the upper end of said support and extending substantially horizontally therefrom; a bracket having a bearing portion turnably and longitudinally shiftably mounted on said shaft; a shelf mounted on the bracket for sliding movement in a direction transverse the axis of the shaft, said shelf being also longitudinally shiftable with the bracket and turnable with the bracket to a substantially horizontal position and to positions of inclination; cooperating stop means associated with the shelf and the support whereby the shelf may be secured in a selected slid position on the bracket;

cooperating latch means associated with the bracket and the support whereby the bracket and shelf may be secured in selected turned position on the shaft; said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means being simultaneously engaged and simultaneously disengaged by opposite longitudinal shifting movements of the shelf and bracket on said shaft; and spring means associated with the support and the bracket for normally urging said bracket and shelf toward their longitudinally shifted position wherein said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means are engaged.

13. In a structure of the class described: an upright support; a tubular shaft secured to the upper end of said support and extending substantially horizontally therefrom; a bracket having a bearing portion turnably and longitudinally shiftably mounted on said shaft; a shelf mounted on the bracket for sliding movement in a direction transverse the axis of the shaft, said shelf being also longitudinally shiftable with the bracket and turnable with the bracket to a substantially horizontal position and to positions of inclination; cooperating stop means associated with the shelf and the support whereby the shelf may be secured in a selected slid position on the bracket; cooperating latch means associated with the bracket and the support whereby the bracket and shelf may be secured in selected turned position on the shaft; said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means being simultaneously engaged and simultaneously disengaged by opposite longitudinal shifting movements of the shelf and bracket on said shaft; and a compression spring disposed within the tubular shaft and bearing at one end against means fixed on the shaft and at its other end against means fixed on the bracket for normally urging said bracket and shelf toward their longitudinally shifted position wherein said cooperating stop means and said cooperating latch means are engaged.

SUMNER C. WILLIS. DANFORTH CARDOZO, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,228,618 Thum June 5, 1917 1,493,891 Moore May 13, 1924 2,532,812 Huber Dec. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 422,043 Great Britain Jan. 3, 1935 521,087 Great Britain May 10, 1940 524,889 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1940, 

